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More than likely, they’d demand more cash—money I didn’t have. How long before I had to start thinking about selling my business?
I wasn’t going to worry about that right now. No, I was going to take charge of this situation, and I knew how.
I left my car and strode into the small convenience store to the left of Boogey Beasts. After making a quick purchase, I hurried to Monsters, PI. I still had fifteen minutes before I had to deliver the cash and it would only take five to drive there.
I needed some reassurance, and there was only one person who could give it to me: Elrik.
“Hey, Melly,” Bailey said.
“Is Elrik in his office?”
“He is. There’s someone with him, but I imaginethey’ll be finishing up soon. Would you like me to tell him you’re here?”
“No, I’ll just poke my head in and say hi. I need to get to work soon.” If he was still busy, I could tell him everything later.
She nodded and gave me a smile before returning to her computer.
I walked down the hall, hearing people speaking inside the offices on my right, though the doors were closed, and I couldn’t make out their words.
Elrik’s door was cracked open, but I didn’t hear anyone talking inside. Had he already left? Maybe he was on his way to see me.
I nudged open the door but came to a shuddering halt, my eyes widening as I took in the scene in front of me.
Elrik held a woman in his arms, and he was kissing her.
30
ELRIK
Just as Brittney lunged at me, I heard a sound at the door. As Brittney’s lips landed on mine, I wrenched away from her.
Melly stood in the opening, gaping at us. Shock filled her eyes, followed by tears. As she spun around and fled from my office, I called out her name, but she didn’t stop.
I knew what she was thinking. Her dad abandoned her when she was young. Her mom died, another abandonment. She wasn’t confident anyone would ever truly be there for her.
She must think I’d blithely go back to Brittney if she curled her finger my way.
“Elrik,” Brittney cried out, grabbing my arm as I tried to get past her. “Wait.”
As Melly fled, I glared at Brittney. “What in the hell did you just do?”
She shook her head, and tears filled the eyes I’d adored from the time hormones first started surgingthrough me. I’d seen her as a friend before that, but I suddenly felt awkward in my skin whenever she was around. I couldn’t figure out what to do with my ungainly body, and my tongue was always tied in a knot.
“I made a mistake,” she said. “I only want to be with you.”
“Did my brother kick you out?”
Her face tightened, but her eyes gave her away. Her chin lifted. “The wedding’s off.”
“There won’t be one with me. Go back to Canada. You won’t find what you want here.”
“You love me.”
“I don’t.” After laying it out for her quickly, I rushed from my office and out onto the sidewalk, but I didn’t see Melly anywhere.
Her car peeled out of the parking lot across the road and headed south on Main Street.
I rushed to my truck and took off after her. I had to catch up to her, had to tell her that I wasn’t getting back with Brittney.
